Professor Leena Peltonen-Palotie: 1952 - 2010

Leena Peltonen-Palotie

It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Professor Leena Peltonen-Palotie on March 11 at her home in Helsinki after a valiant battle with cancer. In addition to her associate membership at the Broad, Leena was Head of Human Genetics at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and held an appointment at the Finland Institute of Molecular Medicine at her death. But much more than this, she was a transcendent figure in the field of human genetics, who for several decades combined the highest excellence in science with an unmatched commitment to training the next generation of scientists and to championing the public health consequences of our research.

All of us who were privileged to work alongside Leena, a valued friend and colleague from the earliest days of the Lander Lab, have been touched in incredibly positive ways by the energy and enthusiasm she brought to all aspects of human genetics, and by the standards of excellence she embodied scientifically and ethically. The Broad Institute community extends its deepest sympathies to her husband and colleague, Aarno Palotie, and to their children, Laura and Kristian. The entire field of human genetics feels the loss of one of its brightest lights and can only strive to carry forward Leena's energy and commitment to our common goals for human health.